Sunday, September 30, 2012

Could the position of my uterus affect my chances of getting pregnant?

Your uterus lies in the midline of your pelvis. It may be angled slightly toward your abdominal wall (anteverted) or toward your rectum (retroverted). The body of the uterus may also be angled from the plane of the cervix in either an anterior or posterior manner (anteflexion or retroflexion). Picture your forearm and hand as representing the body of your uterus and your cervix. The two parts can be aligned and tilted in a straight line, or you can bend your wrist, creating an angle between "the uterus" and "the cervix." If the uterus is mobile, there are generally no symptoms associated with the position of the uterus.

Most positional differences are anatomic variations that occur from woman to woman. Normally, the uterus is in a position of anteversion. Retroversion of the uterus may be present at birth, may be a consequence of childbirth (due to relaxation of the pelvic ligaments), or may be the result of a disease process in the pelvis.

The orientation of a woman's uterus, as determined at birth, has no relation to fertility in and of itself. In some cases, a sharp backward tilt (retroflexion) of the uterus can cause the cervix to be positioned against the anterior vaginal wall. For some couples, this prevents the cervix from being able to "bathe" in the pool of semen that naturally collects in the posterior vaginal vault after intercourse. This may prevent the sperm from swimming into the cervical canal to reach a released ovum for fertilization.

Additionally, there are certain conditions that may cause a sharp retroflexion of the uterus. These include endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease and uterine fibroids. Endometriosis can lead to scarring of the utero-sacral ligaments that may pull the uterus into a fixed retroverted position. As endometriosis can affect fertility, I think you should discuss this with your healthcare provider. Since you have been trying to conceive for the past year, it would be reasonable to undergo additional testing to help evaluate your fertility status. Then you may be able to determine whether or not the position of your uterus is related to a delay in conception.

Pregnancy can occur without penetration into the vagina. Pregnancy can also occur at various times during your cycle, particularly for women who have irregular periods. And yes, some women do experience bleeding at the time of their expected menstruation even though they are pregnant.

Intimacy of this nature can have serious consequences, including pregnancy and the spreading of sexually transmitted diseases (AIDS, herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, HPV, etc.). While it is unlikely that you conceived, it is possible. A pregnancy test may be reassuring.

As men, we all know that one of the best ways to attract a woman is with a good 5 o'clock shadow. Awhile back, I was actually watching a very popular TV show where a pickup artist was being interviewed. He said that women, "... love facial hair, because it's manly, and they love to touch it." Of course, if you're like me, you know that there is a fine line between having facial hair, and having out of control monkey-like fur growing all over your face. Today, I want to teach you how to shave for a 5 o'clock shadow, step-by-step.

Before we begin, you first need to be capable of having a 5 o'clock shadow, and if I'm being completely honest, some guys just can't pull it off. For me, my beard grows somewhat in patches, so I will never be able to get the best results. Therefore, the first step in shaving for a 5 o'clock shadow is determining whether or not you can have one in the first place.

1. Is a 5 o'clock shadow right for you?

Does your beard grow in patches, or does it grow full? For me, I'm somewhat in between, and am just able to pull off the 5 o'clock shadow look. Adam Levine, singer for Maroon 5, has one of the best 5 o'clock shadows that you're ever going to see. That's the first question you need to ask yourself. Are you capable of pulling this off?

2. Find the right grooming tool for your beard.

There are so many products available. The key is to find a product that has received great reviews. Once you've found an electric shaver with good reviews, you're going to want to be sure that it comes with the proper attachments. Most shavers come with a length setting of '1,' '2,' and '3'. Depending on how noticeable you want your shadow to be, you're going to want to choose the proper length setting.

3. Choose the proper length setting for your beard.

The higher the number, the longer your hairs are going to be, and the more your shadow will show. If you have a really patchy beard, I recommend choosing a higher number, as this will create a full, 5 o'clock shadow look. If you have a full beard, which means that you have more hairs per square inch, then feel free to choose a smaller number.

4. Shave gently, before you shower.

With an electric razor, you always want to shave dry, and shave gently. That's why I recommend choosing a good brand razor. Once you've shaved, you can take a shower, wash your face, and if necessary, apply any topical acne treatment that you may be using.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Asthma is a long-term disease affecting the lungs and the airways. In this kind of condition, the airways narrows and inflames. The common signs and symptoms of asthma include chest tightness, wheezing sound, coughing and shortness of breath. The coughing symptom often occurs early in the morning or late at night. In a situation of asthma attack which is also referred to as an asthma exacerbation, the lining of your airways becomes inflamed. The muscles will contract causing you to experience a narrowed breathing pattern. During an asthma exacerbation, you will cough a lot, wheeze and you may experience difficulty of breathing. This kind of condition can be mild which can be managed at home. However, there are severe cases which need immediate attention because it can be a life-threatening situation.

Severe and Mild Forms of Asthma

Some individuals with asthma do not experience an attack of asthma for longer periods. They can actually continue with their day to day activities without experiencing any signs and symptoms of asthma. But there are also some individuals who happen to experience recurrent attack of asthma.

Asthma attack which is mild in form is actually more common compared to severe cases. In mild cases of asthma, your airways will just open up after a few minutes of treatment. With regards to severe attacks of asthma, it is less common but the symptoms really last for longer hours which can threaten your life. This is the main reason why people having severe asthma attacks need to be transported to the nearest health care facility as soon as possible. In order to prevent severe cases of asthma attacks, it is very essential for you to be capable of recognizing early signs and symptoms of an asthma. Treating mild signs and symptoms will prevent further attacks of asthma that are severe in form.

Life-Threatening Asthma

For some reason wherein you have not received any kind of treatment for your asthma attacks for a long time, you won't be able to speak and you would likely develop a bluish discoloration all over your lips. This condition is due to the lack of oxygen circulating in your body. In medical terminology, the bluish discoloration around your lips is referred to as "cyanosis." In the absence of immediate medical attention, you may experience loss of consciousness and you can eventually die.

Early Warning Signs of Asthma Attack

In general, the early symptoms of asthma are not actually severe that may paralyze your day to day activities. But because you can recognize the early signs and symptoms, you can prevent further exacerbation of these.

There are several warning signs of an early asthma attack. These warning signs include frequent cough which is common at night, a meter reading which shows reduced peak flow, shortness of breath or difficulty of breathing, fatigue, body malaise, wheezing, moody, grumpy, easily upset, having trouble falling asleep and signs of allergies or cold such as nasal congestion, headache, and sore throat. The above mentioned warning signs are important for you to remember always. Keep things in moderation and always bring your medication with you. Remember, an attack of asthma can occur unexpectedly.